Please use the button above to donate money to BAUUC via PayPal or a major credit card. Please choose from the list to indicate the purpose of your donation, or type a note to our administrator to give more information. There will also be an opportunity to set up recurring monthly payments, if you choose to do that.
If you’d rather send it using your PayPal account you can send the donation to [email protected]
Alternatively, you can text GIVE to 832-299-5839. This is a unique phone number set up for BAUUC for the purpose of receiving payments. The first time you use this number, you will be asked for your credit card information and the purpose of your payment. You can make recurring payments also, if you choose to do so.
Thank you for your generosity!
Kroger Community Rewards Program
The Kroger Community Rewards program is an ideal way to support BAUUC. The program allocates funds to participating organizations based on the purchases that registered members, family and friends of the organization have made at Kroger using their Kroger Plus card. Each individual should enroll their Kroger Plus Cards online at the Kroger secure website, and then choose the organization they wish to support.
Registration Instructions:
BAUUC’s organization number is 45455.
To use the Kroger Community Rewards Program:
- Register your Kroger Plus card online by going to this link.
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- Be sure to have your Kroger Plus card handy (you will need the number). If you do not yet have a Kroger Plus card, they are available at the customer service desk at any Kroger.
- Click on Create an Account.
- Sign up for a Kroger Rewards Account by entering zip code, clicking on favorite store, entering your email address and creating a password, agreeing to the terms and conditions. You can also enter an Alternate ID to use when you do not have your Kroger Plus Card with you.
- You will then get a message to check your email inbox and click on the link within the body of the email to finalize card registration.
- Click on My Account and use your email address and password to proceed to the next step.
- Link your card with BAUUC
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- Log into your account at this link if you are not already logged in.
- Click on Edit Kroger Community Rewards information or View your Rewards Details and input your Kroger Plus card number.
- Update or confirm your information.
- Enter BAUUC’s organization number (45455) or Bay Area Unitarian Universalist Church, select us from the list, and click confirm.
- To verify you are enrolled correctly, you will see Bay Area Unitarian Universalist Church in the Community Rewards Section of your Account Summary.
Tips:
- REMEMBER, purchases will not count for BAUUC until after you have registered your card and linked it to BAUUC.
- You must swipe your registered Kroger Plus card (or use the alternate ID that is associated with your registered Kroger Plus card) when shopping for each purchase to count.
Giving Overview
Our church community relies completely on the generosity of everyone who calls BAUUC their home. We hope you are nurtured and challenged here, and that you are excited about the possibilities for the future of our faith and our community. And we hope that your excitement leads you to get involved at church, whether it is working with the children, attending a social justice rally, or planning a party. In addition, we hope you will make a pledge of financial commitment to the church and its mission of “Changing Lives and Healing Our World.”
What is a Pledge
A pledge is an annual financial commitment that we ask you to make every spring during our Stewardship Season. Stewardship Season starts in February and runs through March, and leads up to the preparation of the budget for the coming fiscal year which starts in July. Our budget is based directly on the amount pledged by our members and friends each year. Approximately 87% of the money we spend every year comes from pledges.
Why Pledge
You may have your own reasons for pledging, but here are some reasons that we have heard from our members and friends. Some say that it feels good to support a community that they love and rely upon, and that promotes their values in the world. Others say that they are committed to all of the other people in the church who pledge, and they want to do their part. Still others are thinking about the future, wanting to make sure our beloved church is available to those who pass this way after they are gone. Some people start off pledging because it is a requirement for membership at BAUUC but find that they continue pledging for some of the reasons above.
How Much Should I Pledge
The answer to this question is very personal to each individual or family and depends on your financial resources and life situation. You are encouraged to be as generous as you can. Please see the Fair Share Contribution Guide from our Unitarian Universalist Association for information which may help you make your pledging decision. At BAUUC, pledging is a requirement for membership, but no minimum is specified. We encourage our congregants to give 5% of their income, if possible. Our pledges range from about $50 per year to about $16,000 per year. We currently have about 180 members, 125 pledging units, and total pledges for the 2024-2025 fiscal year of about $350,000.
How can I make my pledge?
- Use this link to make your pledge: Pledge here.
- On paper: Pledge forms are given to new members, are passed out to everybody during Stewardship Season, and are available in the church office.
- By email to Sharlene Rochen, our Administrator, at [email protected].
- By phone during business hours (9am-1pm) to Sharlene Rochen, our Administrator, at 281-488-2001.
How can I pay my pledge?
Many congregants contribute monthly or quarterly by making an online payment through their bank. Other options:
- Click on this link to pay via PayPal or credit card: Pay here. You can set up a recurring payment, if you choose to do so.
- Text GIVE to 832-299-5839. This is a unique phone number set up for BAUUC just for the purpose of receiving payments. You will be asked for your credit card number and the purpose of your payment, and you can also set up recurring payments.
- Go to the Paypal app on your mobile device and make a payment to [email protected] including a description of the purpose of your payment.
- Put a check in the offering plate with “Pledge” in the memo line. You can also mail checks or deliver checks to the church to the attention of Sharlene Rochen.
- Put cash in an envelope and put it in the offering plate on Sunday. Please use the envelopes provided on the backs of some chairs. Write your name and “Pledge” on the envelope so that your account is credited.
- If you must take Required Minimum Distributions from your IRA or 401(k) you can instruct the company to pay the amount of your pledge directly to the church and the balance to you. The amount that goes to the church will then not be included in your taxable income. Talk to your financial advisor if you wish to do this.
We need not think alike to love alike. We are people of many beliefs and backgrounds: people with a religious background, people with none, people who believe in a God, people who don’t, and people who let the mystery be.